THE DUSKY ANT. 127 



oarth, sand, and other necessaries. As, in this artificial state of 

 existence, the insects could not procure moisture from the depths 

 of the earth, moisture from other sources was necessary. "When- 

 ever the insects had ceased to ■work, they could almost always be 

 induced to renew their labours by dipping a stiif brush in 

 water, and striking the hand upon it in such a manner that the 

 water descended like very fine rain upon the earth. As soon as 

 the formerly quiescent ants felt the grateful shower, they 

 regained their activity, ran about with renewed energy, and set 

 to work upon the soil, moulding it into little pellets, and testing 

 each tiny ball with their antennae before they applied it to the 

 purposes for which it was made. 



While some of the ants were engaged in this task, which must 

 be considered analogous to brickmaking as practised by mankind, 

 others were scooping out shallow hollows in the clay floor, the little 

 ridges that were left standing being the foundation of the new 

 walls. On these were dabbed the earthen pellets, and adjusted 

 by means of the mandibles or by pressure of the fore feet, thus 

 receiving compactness and uniformity. The most difficult part of 

 such a task is the formation of the ceiling, but the ants do not 

 appear to be at all embarrassed by so formidable an undertaking, 

 but can lay ceilings of two inches in diameter with perfect 

 certainty. The method of constructing the ceiling is by mould- 

 ing the clay pellets into each angle of the chamber and also to 

 the top of the pillars. As fast as one row of pellets becomes dry, 

 a second is added ; and the insects perform this delicate duty with 

 such accuracy, that although so many centres are employed, the 

 parts always coincide in the proper spots. The peculiar knead- 

 ing and biting to which the clay pellets are subjected makes 

 them exceedingly tenacious, so that they adhere strongly on the 

 slightest contact. 



When once these walls are completed, they are of very great 

 strength, and are only the more consolidated by rain and heat. 

 Before their completion, however, they do not appear to endure 

 the extreme either of heat or moisture, and are taken to pieces 

 by the little architects if a drought should check the supply of 

 that moisture, without which the work cannot be properly 

 compacted. 



Mr. Eennie, who followed up the observations of Huber, 

 makes the following remarks on the nest of the ant: — "On 



